A coach is only as good as the players he has available. Some people here are talking as though NZ was starting on an even footing with Mexico.
Yes no doubt he did a few things that in hindsight didn't work out. But was he ever starting with more than a distant outsider's chance? About the same chance as USA had in the rugby league world cup I reckon.
Difference is, in soccer a lesser team can sometimes, compete with a better team. How else do you explain New Zealand, drawing with Italy in 2010.
And this happens every time a weaker team plays a stronger team?
Well, I'm going to say as good as Moss was, Paston would have dealt with the high ball. Maybe 0-0 at half time or maybe even Chris Wood might have nicked one. We missed his decisiveness and we missed both of Nelsen and Reid. though Paston has had brain explosions too, he didn't in the WC quals or at the WC in a way that hurt us.
Christie wouldn't have made much difference probably, but Ivan for Siggie might have. I'm going to say playing pro football and younger. However Siggie did something really stupid last time he played international and Ivan might have seemed a safer pair of hands.
All in all I don't think Ricki's tactics cost us the game. We could have tried to hold the ball more, but IIRC the first goal in the second half was us being caught on the counter ( and again appalling marking)?
More fire from the team and the organisation in general, better preparation, more of us writing actual letters saying we're all behind you, you're doing it for all of us..etc etc The last year has been missed chances from us to maintain the momentum of 2010.